neurodivergent artist and author
I have decided to try to complete 100 faces in 100 days again. I didn’t finish my attempt last year, so I’m going to try again this year following along with #The100DayProject to see if that will help boost my motivation.
Day one was inspired by Effy Wild’s Moonshine 2020 Full Alder Moon in Libra lesson. This art journal spread was created with Golden fluid acrylics in magenta and turquoise as well as Posca pens in gold, white, and black.
For today’s #dailyartdevotions #artjournal practice, I created a watercolor representation of my tidal wave of inspiration. Of course, I had to add a mermaid in the mix because…well…I absolutely love mermaids and just thinking about them brings me artistic inspiration.
Today I began the Daily Devotions: A 40 Day Journey with Art Journaling program (#DailyArtDevotions) led by Elizabeth Foley who also led The Art of Spiritual Living Retreat. For today’s #artjournal practice, we spent time creating the container that would hold all of our art journal pages. For the container, we had the option to repurpose an old book. I was at first hesitant, since I am the kind of person who has only just recently started to write in my books (with pencil so I can erase it). But, I found an old book that has been collecting dust in my garage for many, many years, and decided it would be the perfect container for this 40-day journey. I had a great time gluing pages together and adding in watercolor paper. As I was putting it together, I had an idea that I could leave some of the pages as is and create found poetry as a unique addition to the art journal. I am looking forward to getting back the momentum I had built up with Karen Abend’s Sketchbook Revival and Find Your Flow program. I have decided to follow my heart and refocus on my artistic development and set my writing aside again…for a while.
My intention for this next 40 days is to grow as an artist who is committed to discovering and developing her craft and unique style on a daily basis.
Below: A few pages from my new repurposed art journal (drawings are from the original book and are not mine) and a visit from a hummingbird while I was working on it.
Today I was feeling more energetic and focused. I finished editing a chapter of a friend’s novel, and then finished up my #KuanYin #oilpastel painting from Lucy Chen’s #EverAfter2018 lesson.
It’s interesting how creative energy ebbs and flows. Through this daily creative practice, I’m learning to create despite the energetic highs and lows. Sometimes, just the act of sitting down and starting will jumpstart the flow. Other times, I am aggravated throughout the process, and I am learning to be aware of when it is time to stop and come back to it another day. My intention with this daily practice is to create something. It does not have to be good, nor does it have to be complete.
I’ve never worked with oil pastels, and I’m amazed how they seem to transform themselves on the page. Pure magic. I adore this #KuanYin painting. She is one of my favorites so far. It helps that she came at the perfect time when I was very much in need of compassion.
Sarah Joyce Bryant 